Monthly Archives: January 2017

Los Angeles, Calif.–Night On Broadway will take over Downtown Los Angeles for the third year in a row on Saturday, January 28th –
the expansive and increasingly popular festival offers something for all Angelenos and is expected to eclipse last year’s attendance of more than 60,000 people. A mile-long stretch of Broadway between 3rd St. and Olympic Blvd. will be closed off and transformed for the free event, offering music, games and activities for kids and adults, art installations and one-of-a-kind experiences featuring hundreds of acts, including performances on 10 stages in the street and in six of Broadway’s historic theaters.

TRANSPORTATION / STREET CLOSURES – TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Broadway will be closed from 3rd to 11th, with sections of the closure beginning on Friday afternoon, Jan. 27, 2017. Delays should be expected throughout the Downtown area. Metro is a Night on Broadway partner and the event is a stone’s throw from the Red /Purple Line Pershing Square station at 5th & Hill, and central to all DTLA transit. For more info, visit the Metro Trip Planner or call 323-Go Metro (323-466-3876).

Complimentary bike valet will be provided at 5th Street in the festival area, coordinated by the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition and Broadway’s DTLA Bikes. Flat-rate parking is available at the City’s Pershing Square Parking Garage and at area Joe’s, City Center, and Paragon Parking lots and garages. Go to www.NightonBroadway.la/transportation for further info.

Santa Clarita, Calif. –Santa Clarita Studios, an independent full-service studio, is the most recent business to be featured in the City of Santa Clarita’s Economic Development video, Santa Clarita Business Minute.

Santa Clarita’s varied topography, over 20 sound stages, over 10 movie ranches and thousands of film-friendly locations, combined with the City’s location within the “30-Mile Zone,” make it one of the most filmed areas in California. The City of Santa Clarita is committed to creating an environment that allows the film industry to thrive and be successful. The City’s Film Office is dedicated to making filming in Santa Clarita as affordable, convenient and enjoyable as possible for production, while balancing the needs of the community’s residents and businesses.

In the latest edition of the Santa Clarita Business Minute, learn more about Santa Clarita Studios, a local studio offering a comprehensive package of products and services to meet all production needs. Countless productions have based and filmed at Santa Clarita Studios over the years, including Netflix’s soon-to-be-released “Santa Clarita Diet,” airing on February 3 and “Atypical.” In addition, TBS’ “The Guest Book,” Freeform’s “Stitchers” and “Switched at Birth,” ABC’s “Mistresses,” FX’s “Justified,” and “The Riches,” CBS’ “CSI” and “The Unit,” HBO’s “Deadwood,” TNT’s “Franklin & Bash,” and Fox’s “Melrose Place” have all filmed at the studio. Movies like A Wrinkle in Time, Magic Camp, Fast & Furious, Bobby, True Lies and Planet of the Apes have also utilized the studio for filming.

In the video, Santa Clarita Studios executives discuss the City of Santa Clarita’s film-friendly and business-friendly approach to filming in Santa Clarita.

“There are so many things we wouldn’t be able to get done, if it wasn’t for the responsive team in the City, if it wasn’t for how film-friendly Santa Clarita is as a City,” said Richard Deutsch, Vice President of Santa Clarita Studios. “Everyone from the Mayor’s Office, to L.A. County Fire, to the Film Office, to the Economic Development group, they’re all there for us. I think we’re not the only industry that would say that. You really have their support as a business here in Santa Clarita.”

The Santa Clarita Business Minute is avideo campaign designed to spotlight successful local companies. Santa Clarita Studios is one of more than 6,000 diverse global, national and regional companies that call Santa Clarita home. The most recent video, as well as others, can be viewed at ThinkSantaClarita.com.

For more information about the Santa Clarita Business Minute and to learn why companies like Santa Clarita Studios choose to do business and expand in Santa Clarita, visit ThinkSantaClarita.com.

Hollywood, Calif. – The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that director Brett Ratner will be honored with the 2,599th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, January 19th at 11:30 a.m. PST. The star in the category of Motion Pictures will be dedicated at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in front of the Hollywood & Highland Complex.

Helping Emcee and Hollywood Chamber President/CEO Leron Gubler to unveil the star will be Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Studios Kevin Tsujihara, and Walk of Famers Eddie Murphy and a surprise celebrity guest.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce which administers the popular star ceremonies encourages people who are unable to attend and fans around the world to watch the event live exclusively on www.walkoffame.com.

Brett Ratner is one of Hollywood’s most successful filmmakers. His diverse films resonate with audiences worldwide and, as director, his films have grossed over $2-billion at the global box office. Ratner began his career directing music videos before making his feature directorial debut at 26 years old with the action comedy hit Money Talks. He followed with the blockbuster Rush Hour and its successful sequels. Ratner also directed The Family Man, Red Dragon, After theSunset, XMen: The Last Stand, Tower Heist and Hercules.

Ratner has also enjoyed critical acclaim and box-office success as a producer. He has served as an executive producer on the Golden Globe and Oscar-winning The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp, and War Dogs, starring Jonah Hill; and as a producer on Truth, starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett; I Saw the Light, starring Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen, Rules Don’t Apply, written, directed and produced by Warren Beatty, and Sony Pictures Classics’ Land of Mine directed by Martin Zandvliet. His other produced films include the smash hit comedy Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and the re-imagined Snow White tale Mirror Mirror.

His additional producing credits include the documentaries Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Author: The JT LeRoy Story, Catfish, the Emmy-nominated Woody Allen – A Documentary, Helmut by June, I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale, Chuck Norris vs. Communism, the Emmy Award and Peabody Award-winning Night Will Fall, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Before the Flood, released by National Geographic. He also executive produced and directed the Golden Globe-nominated FOX series Prison Break, and executive produced the television series Rush Hour, based on his hit films.

In 2013, Ratner, along with his business partner James Packer, formed RatPac Entertainment, a film finance production and media company. RatPac has a first-look deal with Warner Bros., and joined with Dune Capital to co-finance over 75 films, including the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Gravity, The LEGO Movie, and American Sniper. Recent films include Sully, The Accountant, Suicide Squad, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In partnership with New Regency, RatPac co-financed The Revenant and Birdman. Internationally, RatPac and Warner Bros. have formed a joint venture with Warner Bros., China Media Capital Group and WPP to finance local Chinese content.

Ratner is a Board of Trustees member of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance. He currently sits on the boards of Ghetto Film School, Chrysalis, Best Buddies, and the Los Angeles Police Foundation, while serving on the Dean’s Council of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and on the Board of Directors at Tel Aviv University’s School of Film and Television.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Disneyland Resort is kicking off the new year with a special ticket offer for Southern California residents, just in time to enjoy the upcomingMain Street Electrical Paradeand thrillingStar Warsexperiences at Disneyland Park, plus theLunar New Year Celebrationand theDisney California AdventureFood & Wine Festivalat Disney California Adventure Park.

3-day ticket with choice of one park per day for $149–less than $50 per day

3-day Park Hopper ticket for $189.

The Southern California Resident tickets include one Magic Morning** early entry to Disneyland Park, which provides an extra hour of play on select days before the park opens to the general public.

At DisneylandGuests who choose to visit Disneyland will enjoy the iconic nighttimeMain Street Electrical Parade, showcasing scenes and characters from some classic Disney animated films on floats covered in thousands of colorful lights. Beginning Jan. 20, the beloved parade returns to Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland, where it began. Guests at Disney Parks around the world have experienced the popular parade.

The Disneyland Resort is the place whereStar Warslives duringSeason of the Force,an exciting lineup of experiences that celebrate theStar Warsfilm saga. Guests will enjoy the thrills ofHyperspace Mountain, theStar Wars-themed transformation of Space Mountain; the multiple destinations of theStar Tours – The Adventures Continueattraction; and the exciting short film, “Star Wars: Path of the Jedi,”which relives highlights of theStar Warsfilms. In addition,Star WarsLaunch Bayinvites guests to encounter that favoriteStar Warspilot Chewbacca, visit a Star Wars-themed cantina and discover authentic replicas of film props, including props from the newest blockbuster in the saga, “Rogue One.” Younglings may learn to conquer their fears inJedi Training: Trials of the Temple.

Another nighttime highlight at Disneyland is the spectacular“Remember … Dreams Come True”fireworks show. This pyrotechnic tribute to the spirit of Disneyland, narrated by Julie Andrews, includes nods to some favorite attractions, past and present. It returns to Disneyland for the first time in more than two years, beginning with weekend performances Friday, Feb. 3.

At Disney California AdventureThe special magic of the Year of the Rooster comes alive in a bigger-than-everLunar New Year Celebration, expanded to 17 days, Jan. 20 through Feb. 5, at Disney California Adventure. Guests will enjoy “Hurry Home,” a new animation, water and special effects feature for Lunar New Year, which precedes the nightly performances of “World of Color” on Paradise Bay. The celebration also includes colorful live performances, fun-filled activities, beautiful décor, Disney characters in their Lunar New Year costumes and special food and merchandise offerings.

Food is always part of the fun at the Disneyland Resort, and the popularDisney California Adventure Food & Wine Festivalexpands to five weeks this year, with daily events March 10 through April 16. The Festival celebrates the lifestyle and springtime flavors of California with a blend of culinary demonstrations, seminars and a full range of dining and tasting options.

The Lunar New Year and Food & Wine celebrations add to the year-round fun at Disney California Adventure, which features popular attractions such as Radiator Springs Racers, California Screamin’ and Toy Story Midway Mania. And the latest airborne Soarin’ adventure,Soarin’ Around the World, transports guests to the snowy peak of the Matterhorn, along the Great Wall of China, through Monument Valley and over other iconic destinations worldwide.

Southern California residents may experience all of these attractions and entertainment, along with other beloved experiences at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks, with the 3-day Southern California Resident tickets. An ideal way to make unforgettable memories, they are available for a limited time. Southern California residents must purchase tickets from Jan. 9 through May 22, 2017. Tickets expire after May 25, 2017, and blockout dates apply. They can be purchased athttp://Disneyland.com/SoCal, The Disney Stores, Vons and other retail locations, as well as any Disneyland Resort ticket booth. Guests who purchase tickets online may print their tickets at home. Proof of residency is required for purchase and Theme Park admission.

Hotel OffersSpecial hotel offers are available for guests who want to turn their Disneyland Resort visit into a getaway, including a stay in the middle of the magic at any of the three Disneyland Resort hotels. Guests may save up to 25 percent on premium rooms for select nights atDisney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spaor theDisneyland Hotel, and up to 10 percent atDisney’s Paradise Pier Hotelfor travel from January 8 through April 20, 2017, if booked by March 9.***

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About the Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resortfeatures two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprising unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club units; the magical, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” theme. For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visitDisneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort opened July 17, 1955. Open daily, year-round.

Valid only for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999; proof of residency is required for purchase and admission. 3-Day, 1-Park Per Day ticket is valid for admission to either Disneyland® or Disney California Adventure® park each day of validity, but not to both parks on the same day. 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® ticket is valid for admission three (3) days to both Disneyland® and Disney California Adventure® park on the same day. Each day of use constitutes one full day of use. Tickets expire May 25, 2017. Blockout days of 4/9/17-4/23/17 apply. May purchase up to 5 tickets per person per day with valid ID. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Offer may not be combined with other ticket discounts or promotions. Tickets not valid before 1/9/17. Subject to capacity, restrictions and change without notice.

**Magic Morning:

Magic Morning admission allows admission to selected attractions at Disneyland® Park before the park opens to the general public on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Each Guest must have valid, eligible theme park admission. To enhance the Magic Morning experiences, it is strongly recommended that Guests arrive at least one hour and 15 minutes prior to regular park opening. Magic Morning admission is based on availability and capacity. Applicable theme park, days and times of operation and all other elements including, but not limited to, operation of attractions, entertainment, stores and restaurants and appearances of characters may vary and are subject to change without notice. Subject to restrictions and cancellation.

***Resort Hotel Offer

Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room at the same hotel for most Sunday through Thursday nights. Valid for travel between 1/8/17 to 4/20/17. Book from 10/26/16 through 3/9/17, with travel completed by 4/21/17. Savings on premium rooms are available on Premium, Deluxe and Woods/Garden/Courtyard rooms. Offer excludes select Concierge rooms and suites, except Paradise, Artisan and Regal suites. Ask about savings on other hotels and room types. Not valid on previously booked rooms. Advance reservations required. Subject to availability as the number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes applicable fees and taxes. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and five (5) people maximum per room. Not valid in combination with any other hotel discounts or offers. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Separate Theme Park admission is required to enjoy the Parks.

– See more at: http://disneylandnews.com/2017/01/09/disneyland-resort-offers-southern-california-residents-special-3-day-ticket-prices-for-a-limited-time-beginning-jan-9/#sthash.dABxVZqE.dpuf

Los Angeles, Calif. –Carol Sears will be premiering a long-awaited exhibit of her new body of work this Saturday, January 14 at Launch LA. The series of all new works, entitled Jigsaw, takes a dynamic and bold turn that breaks away from yet works with Sears’ abstract compositional aesthetic established in Linescapes. Jigsaw will have an opening reception Saturday, January 14 from 7-10pm at Launch LA. It will remain on view through February 25. I warmly invite you to attend, but any coverage of the show leading up to the opening and during its run is welcome as well. Carol is available for interview.

Nine new pieces utilize bold jewel tones amongst interlocking abstracted forms set against soft gray backgrounds, giving us a complex focal point for us to untangle and see into while giving us space to breathe and immerse ourselves in the juicy color palette. Each painting emanates a soft nostalgia for midcentury California in their palettes and forms, but reference Sears’ Australian heritage and interest that draws from Aboriginal art and language. The seamless blend of her influences has created a new vein for her work that retains a memory for her previous figurative pieces and abstracted landscapes while standing in their own right as something more.

HBO’s popular ‘Westworld,’ is among the many popular shows and movies filmed in Santa Clarita’s aka “Hollwood North” locations.

Santa Clarita, Calif. – The Santa Clarita Film Office experienced another great year for location filming in Santa Clarita. In 2016, the Film Office recorded 548 film permits and 1,366 film days, which generated an estimated economic impact of $33.1 million to the local community.

This is the fourth year in a row the estimated economic impact generated from location filming has reached $30 million or more. Additionally, this is the third year in a row the Film Office has recorded more than 500 permits and more than 1,300 film days. Not included in the reported numbers are the film days and economic benefit from filming that takes place on certified sound stages, which does not require a film permit.

Many factors have contributed to the continued success and appeal of filming in Santa Clarita, including the City’s Movie Ranch Overlay Zone and Film Incentive Program, along with the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program that is working to keep production in the state.

“We’re happy that Santa Clarita remains a top choice for productions looking to film in the Los Angeles area,” said Mayor Cameron Smyth. “We remain committed to keeping Santa Clarita a top choice for filming because it is a large part of our local economy. Local filming also provides high paying jobs for thousands of local residents and supports hundreds of local companies involved in the entertainment industry.”

More than half of the filming days for 2016 were attributed to television production alone, many of which were locally-based shows including “Atypical,” “Blunt Talk,” “Good Girls Revolt,” “The Guest Book,” “Man vs. Master,” “Mistresses,” “NCIS,” “Santa Clarita Diet,” “Shooter,” “Stitchers,”“Switched at Birth,” “Ultimate Beastmaster,” and “Westworld.”

Television productions aren’t the only ones taking advantage of Santa Clarita as a film location. Several movies also shot in Santa Clarita in 2016 including A Wrinkle in Time, Abilene, All-Star Weekend, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Day of Reckoning, The Female Brain,Gone Are the Days,How to be a Latin Lover, Insidious: Chapter 4, The Last Word, The Lovers, Magic Camp, #REALITYHIGH, Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens, Sun Dogs, To the Bone, The Yellow Birds and more.

Santa Clarita continues to be one of the most filmed places in California because it’s located within the industry’s well-known 30-Mile Zone and offers thousands of film-friendly locations that can double for almost anywhere in the world. In addition, Santa Clarita has more than 20 sound stages, more than 10 movie ranches, a one-stop shop Film Office, and some of the lowest film permit fees in the Los Angeles area.

For more information about filming in Santa Clarita, please visit FilmSantaClarita.com or contact the Film Office at (661) 284-1425. For an insider’s view to filming in the area, follow the Santa Clarita Film Office on Instagram (@FilmSantaClarita).

Hollywood, Calif.– The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored actress Amy Adams with the 2,598th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. The star in the category of Motion Pictures was dedicated at 6280 Hollywood Boulevard next to the W Hollywood Hotel.

“Amy is a multitalented award-winning actress who takes us by surprise with every new role she takes on and keeps us wanting more,” said Ana Martinez, Producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Hollywood, Calif –Producer Jeffrey Seller is thrilled to announce thattwo-time Tony Award® nominee JOSHUA HENRY, Broadway’s MICHAEL LUWYOYE andTony Award® Nominee RORY O’MALLEY will lead the National Tour of HAMILTON as Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton and King George III, respectively. Hamilton will open at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on August 11 and run through December 30, 2017.

Mr. Henry, currently performing in the Chicago production, made his Broadway debut in In The Heights, received Tony Award ®nominations for his roles in Violet and The Scottsboro Boys and created the role of “Noble Sissle” in Shuffle Along. Mr. Luwoye made his Broadway debut in HAMILTON and was nominated for a 2016 Lucille Lortel Award for his work as Jacob in Invisible Thread (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical). And, Mr. O’Malley is currently playing King George III on Broadway and received a Tony Award® nomination for his role as Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon.

Other principal roles in HAMILTON on tour will be played by RUBÉN J. CARBAJAL as John Laurens/Phillip Hamilton; JORDAN DONICA as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson; AMBER IMAN as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds; ISAIAH JOHNSON as George Washington; SOLEA PFEIFFER as Eliza Hamilton; EMMY RAVER-LAMPMAN as Angelica Schuyler and MATHENEE TRECO as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison.

Performances begin March 10, 2017 at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. The National Tour of HAMILTON will play 21-weeks in San Francisco, followed by a 21-week engagement in Los Angeles.

JoshuaHenry’s Broadway credits include Shuffle Along,Violet (Tony nomination), The Scottsboro Boys (Tony nomination), The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, American Idiot, Bring It On: The Musical, and In the Heights (Drama Desk Award – Outstanding Ensemble Performance). City Center Encores!: Cotton Club Parade and The Wiz. Film: The Lake (2017), Sex and the City and Winter’s Tale. Television: “Army Wives,” and “Kings.”

Michael Luwoye is currently the Alexander Hamilton alternate on Broadway. Off Broadway: Invisible Thread (Second Stage). Regional: Cardboard Piano (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Marley (Center Stage), Witness Uganda (A.R.T.), Tick, tick … BOOM! (American Theater Group), and The Three Musketeers and Once on This Island (Flat Rock Playhouse). He received B.A. from The University of Alabama c/o 2013.

Rory O’Malley was last seen on Broadway singing “Turn It Off” as Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon (Tony and Drama Desk nominations) and in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Off-Broadway: Nobody Loves You (Drama Desk nomination) and Little Miss Sunshine. TV: “Partners” alongside Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence, “Nurse Jackie,” “The Good Wife,” “Law & Order: SVU” and “1600 Penn.” Film: Dreamgirls.

With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. The musical won eleven 2016 Tony Awards ®including Best Musical, Score, Book of a Musical, Direction of a Musical, Choreography and Orchestrations. Mr. Miranda received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for HAMILTON.

HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.

HAMILTON’s creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.